Just heard this show on Sirius today. I once had a cassette of the second set. Today I heard a first set that goes right along with it. This is that rare 80's show to which I'll give 5 stars. It's got everything. Song selection, length, instrumental interplay, and fiery intensity, especially on Fire and Dew. They don't skimp on this one. Birdsong, TMNS, Scarlet, Estimated, Eyes, Uncle John's -- all have lengthy jams, at least for this period, and there's an unusual segue from UJB into Truckin'. Jerry's 40th birthday is the following day, and he celebrates with excellent play culminating in a stunning Dew (the only quibble being that he runs out of steam on the final instrumental verse).

I was there, it was a good show. I remember it being hot, very hot. But it wasn't real dusty or too crowded or anything bad. I was there with my former wife, Linda and one of her friends, Jan and a bunch of her friends. My birthday is the same day as Gerry's and at Midnight Jan got me up close to the stage. Bob, maybe, played a little bit of Happy Birthday and you should be able to hear her hollering "its his birthday, too." My 5 seconds of fame. But the show was good, there were a lot of bikers and they were cool too. I think a lot of people hung out in the parking lots after the show and it was a great evening. They didn't play in Texas much in the 80's and we were all very happy to see them. I don't know about a rating, would be a 5 if it was in a good sounding auditorium. But being outside was good in a different way. I would be great to hear from other who were there.

I think the > is often incorrectly used. In my mind there needs to be a musical linkage between the two songs, not a lack of time. For example, in my book this is not a Fire > Estimated.

That being said, I'm not sure how to resolve Me & My Uncle > Big River which I accept without question.

Scarlet Begonias gets eaten whole by Fire On The Mountain


1st set makes my ears want to pop

Like Dirtywater, I was at this show and it is my favorite of all the shows I saw. In the first set all the songs from Candyman through Deal are exemplary versions. Yeah, there are a couple of flubbed lyrics -- but the show is just so outstanding through and through that it doesn't make squat difference. (Unfortunately, the flubs are nothing quite as memorable as Bob the year before at Manor Downs mixing and mangling the Jack Straw and Tennessee Jed lyrics -- while in Texas on the Fourth Day of July, no less-- but, that too was just a brief head-scratcher--and it certainly made it memorable).

The whole band is really on this show-- really tight and very loose. Jerry is in absolute top form the entire show-- really, really crisp playing. Sure, I'm partial because I was there, but I would be hard pressed to think of another show where he played better.

I also thought Kreutzmann and Hart were an extra step above their usual standard of excellence. One of them once said their goal was not to be two drummers, but instead be one drummer with eight arms. They were about as close to doing that here as I could ever imagine.

Charlie Miller does an absolutely primo job on the recording-- the mix is superb-- the exchanges between the band members are all there for the listening. Manor Downs was a tough place to get good quality recordings from-- lots of wide open space that just ate lots of dynamic range in most recordings. Charlie has made this recording just about as good as it could possibly be. Thanks Charlie.

Kirk from Nashville-- wish you could have made the trip--you would have loved it. But, your Pez made its own unique and valuable contribution to the show--if not the long, long drive back. Thanks Kirk.

I don't know the layout at Manor Downs, or the effects of a record heat wave, but the acoustics of this show are a challenge for the sound techs and they are not able to get this one dialed-in until Music Never Stopped. So apropos! After that, the sound is pretty good. It would be heaven for Evan to hear a pristine version of this show.

Maybe someone out there was in attendance and could report on the venue and the scene that day. It sounds to me as if the heat effected the P.A.'s performance until after the sun went down? I don't know, but...

Regardless of all that, from Music Never Stopped until Morning Dew the GD flies Translove Airlines and gets us there on time with no verbiage to spare. They blast right thru them as if there was no break and what they spread is a great place-setting of classic tunes, yes, a veritable banquet out on the veranda. Ribs, Corn on the Cobb, Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, and Rhubarb Pie.

During UJB there is a slight buzzing and semi loss of signal. The players fumble the beginning of Truckin' a bit before they just sort of abandon it and then go pell mell back into it. Oh, my synapses! Truckin' is hot with a great post jam meltdown into Dew, which is not an epic version, but adequate. Despite a tremendous boost in sound during Saturday Nite and Don't Ease these songs were mere afterthoughts. They sounded drained.

Because of the slightly distorted recording, the quality this show only merits a 4, but it is generally so well played it makes up for the glitches. You can't always get what you want. and Sometimes it gets too hot to even think about what you want.

very good sound for the most part. candyman, and then most of the first set after that really rips. estimated>eyes is nice.

I had the good fortune to be at this show and already have an audience tape. This is my favorite show of all time. I know this sounds like an oxymoron, but this show had so much energy yet was so laid back. It was the night before Jerry turned 40 and the whole band was on fire.

I love both sets. The first set is solid, with no real weaknesses. Candy Man was great and Red Rooster, It's All Over Now, Brown Eyed Woman, and Deal are crackling with energy. The Music Never Stopped has a fantastic jam at the end.

The one disappointment on the second set is with Uncle John's Band. They blew a stage monitor towards the end of the song. On my audience tape, you can hear a little of the static (as well as Garcia telling the crew to "fix the fucker"). The band does lose it's pace a little, but the problem is quickly fixed and the band powers into an incredible finish to the song, slamming into Truckin. On this recording, the static is much more pronounced and the soundboard guys are making some adjustments, which is also distracting, and can cause the listener to not pay attention to an incredible jam that is filled with drama.

But that is a minor flaw in a great, great, great performance.

I had always wondered why this show wasn't a candidate for Dick's Picks. Now I know.

I agree with the other review. This is a little gem here. The band is really playing like a well oiled machine in this one. I streamed it at work and enjoyed it quite abit. The sound is very good. Candyman has some nice vocals with Jerry and Brent. Brown eyed women has some lyric mistakes by Jerry, but doesn't that make the 80's even better?

Streamed at work....had to take a 2nd listen at home! I hardly ever do that!

Perfect setlist. Tight playing, high bouncing energy. Good sound, not AA+ maybe just an A. All the boys a present and nicely balanced.

Better than the other SBD source.